DIVE-IN (Developing Inclusive Voices & Experiences In Nursing) Program

The need to successfully address the lack of diversity in our health professions has never been greater, as we learn more about health disparities within our communities of color and discuss ways to improve health equity. Considering racial/ethnic backgrounds (AACN,2019), the RN population is comprised of 80.8% White/Caucasian; and only 6.2% African American; 7.5% Asian; 5.3% Hispanic; 0.4% American Indian/Alaskan Native; 0.5 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, which is not reflective of our nation’s diversity. While pipeline program in high-schools have been happening for years, we are finding that waiting until high school to introduce nursing as a career is often too late. Our chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses would like to work with the Bridgeport school system to offer a five-day interactive program for middle-schoolers, which we have named DIVE-IN (Developing Inclusive Voices & Experiences In Nursing).